The Masked Singer is an Australian reality singing competition Talent Show that began airing on Network Ten in September of 2019. It's based on the USA version of The Masked Singer, which itself is licensed from the original South Korean King of Mask Singer.
The format of the show is the same as the American version: twelve singers wearing elaborate, identity-concealing costumes are matched up against one another, with a panel of judges (Jackie O, Dannii Minogue, Dave Hughes, and Lindsay Lohan) and the studio audience voting on which performances are best. The losers of each match-up gather at the end of the episode, and the one voted the lowest removes their mask to reveal their identity.
In October 2019, it was announced that the show would be returning for a second season in 2020. For the second series, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Lohan was replaced by New Zealand comedian Urzilla Carson. A third season aired in 2021. After season 3, Dannii, Jackie and Urzila all moved on from their roles as judges, with Abbie Chatfield, Chrissie Swan and Mel B taking over starting with season 4 in 2022, and season 5 in 2023. A sixth season has been greenlit for 2024.
This show provides examples of:
- '80s Hair: In the Time Machine episode of Season 5's The Masked Singer, Dave Hughes made a special entrance with a long curly wig to accompany his outfit.
- Clueless Detective: Lindsay Lohan often makes wild and off-base guesses regarding who's behind the masks due to being unfamiliar with a lot of Australian celebrities. Hughsey does this often too, but his guesses are definitely Played for Laughs.
- Commercial Break Cliffhanger: Often done to delay the results of the individual matchups.
- Costume Porn: Just like the American version, the show features an array of wonderfully over-the-top costumes for the contenders to hide their identities. Here the designs were provided by BAFTA-winning costume designer Tim Chappel, who's known for designing the costumes for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
- Dramatic Unmask: At the end of every episode at least one of the masks have to come off.
- Expy: Several of the costumes are similar to the ones featured on the American version, being the Alien, Lion, Monster and Unicorn.
- The Host: The show is hosted by veteran Australian TV presenter Osher Günsberg.
- In-Series Nickname: Dannii was nicknamed 'Inspector Minogue' during the first season because of her high track record of guessing the contestant's true identities; her track record - and thus the nickname - have continued during season two.
- I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: Two of the finalists ended up sharing personal connections with two of the judges.
- Dave Hughes and Monster, who is Gorgi Coghlan, are frequently co-panelists on the show The Project. Not only that, but the two even went to school together!
- Lindsay Lohan was able to pick out Robot's identity as Cody Simpson because he used to date her sister.
- Jackie O and Season 2's Dragonfly, who is Sophie Monk.
- Jackie O again with Season 3's guest mask performer Rubble, who is Kyle Sandilands, who shares a breakfast radio show with her on KIIS.
Jackie went on to say that she will never live this down for not realising it's Kyle.
- Jackie O again with Season 3's guest mask performer Rubble, who is Kyle Sandilands, who shares a breakfast radio show with her on KIIS.
- Dannii Minogue and Season 3's Kebab, who is Jack Vidgen, who was first discovered by judge Dannii in Season 5's Australia's Got Talent. Shockingly, Dannii wasn't convinced it was Jack underneath even when the time came for Kebab to take it off.
- Dave Hughes and Season 5's Captain, who is Brendan Fevola. Hughesy managed to catch on with the clues and the fact Brendan hasn't answered his calls recently.
- The One Guy: Panelist judge Dave Hughes, who is the only male judge on the show, yet the only judge to appear on every season alongside host Osher Gunsberg.
- Product Placement: For the upcoming movie Trolls Band Together, the characters from the franchise are fooling around in a camera room, making the stage flash in several colours and shooting confetti at host Osher Gunsberg by pressing a button.
- Secret Identity Vocal Shift: During the clue packages the contestants' voices are digitally altered to disguise them. Sometimes they're pitched up, while on others they're pitched down.
- Wardrobe Malfunction:
- In the Time Machine Episode of Season 5, Mel B brings out two of her outfits she wore during her time as a Spice Girl. Unfortunately with the second outfit, her right boot is beginning to lose its stuffing to the point she tries to collect the valuable stuffing.
- In the Grand Finale of Season 5, after the Group Number, Dave reveals he has split his pants open.
